Milk bottle sterilizer



July 7, 1931.

J. B. BAKER 1,813,602

MILK BOTTLE STERILIZER Filed Aug. 12, 1930 Jig].

0 5 6 0 F0 9-1 ll Y 54' \EI m 11' Q 4: 23553 535 1.1J 1 T7 l 7 1 II ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 193? UNITED STATES- JAMES B. BAKER, OF SCENERY HILL, IPENNSYLVANIA MILK BOTTLE STERILIZER Application filed August 12, 1930. Serial No. 474,855.

My invention consists of an improvement in means for sterilizing bottles or the like, by passage therethrough of a continuous curved column or series of the bottles, for

the purpose of cleansing and sterilizing, and

delivering the bottles one by one continuously at the delivery end of the apparatus.

The device consists of a main enclosing tank, adapted to contain a body of water or other sterilizing fluid, capable of being set upon a stove or over a burner, for heating, and provided with a removable top, and one or more downwardly curved perforated conductor pipes or tubes for movement of the bottles therethrough, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, showing one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IIII of Fig. l with the tank;

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation, partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the bottle conducting tube.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the main enclosing tank or vessel, of any desired design, made of sheet metal or other suitable material, and properly shaped for economy of space to admit of the insertion therein ofthe article circulation tube or tubes.

For such purpose the base or bottom 3 of tank 2 is somewhat shorter than its top, the end walls 4 sloping upwardly and outwardly, providing the elongated upper portion, upon which is placed the removable cover 5.

Such cover may be provided with suitable handles 6 and may be laid upon the top edges, or provided with inner or outer flanges for tight connection therewith, in the manner customary in making covers or tops for boilers, pots, and the like.

F iXedly connected with the top 5 is the bottle conducting tube or conduit 7, preferably circular in cross section and of a size to freely admit for passage therethrough a l continuous series of bottles or other openl%nded containers 8, as clearly indicated in Tube 7 is connected at opposite ends of the cover 5 in any suitable manner so as to make it a fixture therewith, and depends inwardly at an angle at each end and rounded downwardly in the form of an are, as shown.

The receiving end of tube 7 preferably terminates flush with the top 5 -while the delivery end 9 preferably extends slightly above the top as shown, for suitable reception and deliveryof the articles to be cleansed.

By extending the delivery end of the tube somewhat above the top of the tank, the bottles may be easily discharged upon a conveyor of suitable kind.

Tube 7 is submerged, as to its middle portion, below the water line a, a gauge 10 being preferably utilized to indicate the temperature of the water.

Tube 7 is provided throughout the lower middle portion of its length with a series of perforations or openings 11, more or less closely adjacent, perforating the tube at intervals through its sides and bottom as may be desired, so as to provide for free circulation of water. i

The water being sufliciently heated to the desired temperature, the bottles are inserted with the closed end down into the tube "7 at its receiving end, one after another, in a continuous column, passing downwardly into the contained water of the tube. By application of sufficient pressure on each newly inserted bottle of a series the endmost bottle of the series passes outwardly of the delivery end 9, as long as bottles con tinue to be introduced.

In their passage downwardly through the tube and into the contained water, each bottle becomes filled, remaining full while submerged, and automatically draining as the bottles pass upwardly above the water line a, being delivered in practically dry condition. Dependent on the rate of travel, each bottle is thus exposed to the cleansing and sterilizing action of the heated liquid and is automatically subjected to the filling,

As will be understood, any desired riumber of tubes 7 may be utilized, such as two, so as to economize the time of operation with increased output.

of transverse openings, the receiving end of the conduit being flush with the cover and the opposite delivery end projectlng above the cover for delivery to a conveyor or the like.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES B, BAKER.

The device is comparatively simple and cheap in construction, highly efliclent in operation, strong and substantial, and not liable to get out of order. It is'capable of use in the manner described and thoroughly Washes and subjects all interior and exterior portions of the, bottles to the cleansing and sterilizing action of the liquid.

It may be made in various suitable sizes or may be changed in design or other detail features of construction by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims. I

7 What I claim is:

1. In a sterilizing tank for bottles, the combination of a main vessel adapted to contain Water and having a supporting bottom, outwardly and upwardly extending end walls having vertically extending upper edges, parallel sides connecting the bottom and end walls and terminating on the horizontal plane of the end wall edges, a flat removable cover having interfitting flange connection with the side and end wall edges, a tubular bottle containing and guiding conduit fixedly connected with and extending inwardly and downwardly from opposite end portions of the cover and rounded in the form of a depending arc with its middle adjacent the vessel bottom, the lower portion of said conduit having a plurality of transverse openings.

'2. In a sterilizing tank for bottles, the combination of a main vessel adapted to contain water and having a supporting bottom, outwardly and upwardly extending end walls having vertically extending upper edges, parallel sides connecting the bottom and end walls and terminating on the horizontal plane of the end wall edges, a fiat jremovable cover having interfitting flange connection with the side and end wall edges, I

a tubular bottle containing and guiding conduit fixedly connected with and extending inwardly and downwardly from opposite end portions of the cover and rounded in the form of a depending are with its middle adjacent the vessel bottom the lower p rtien sa d conduit hav g a plura i y 

